Next Year.

Sometimes I find myself getting anxious about next year, meaning the next school year.  I've been so blessed to be able to work part-time this school year, and I'm loving my schedule.  It's enough time to get out of the house and be around others, but I also get to spend more time with Kirsten and Simon than I did last year.  Even with taking my graduate classes (which meet every Wednesday night), I have so much more time with my family than I did last year when I was working full time.  So, for the most part, things are going super in that department.  I still think I'd prefer to be home full-time, but since I'm not, I try and make the best of my current situation.

Even as wonderful as it is now, I find myself jumping to next year with some apprehension.  My ideal year next year would be a mirror image of this year.  Working part-time (two or three days a week), with my one night of classes, and then spending the other two days with Kirsten and Simon.  The problem is, I don't know for sure that next year will look like this.

There's a possibility I'll take a new job (as a principal) next year.  I'm not counting on it, but after this spring semester I'll have my evaluator's license and will be legally able to work as a principal or assistant principal.  Of course, a few things would have to happen in order for that.  For example there'd have to be an opening in a district I'm interested in, I'd have to apply, I'd have to get an offer, etc.  But?  In reality it is very possible.

For those reasons, I'm somewhat hoping there are no openings I'm interested in.  Then, I won't be faced with that temptation.  I know that I want to be a principal, my first semester of coursework has proved to me that the decision I made to begin this journey is absolutely the correct thing for me and my family.  I am very much looking forward to being a principal one day.  My hope though, is that I can get one more year while my kids are so young "at home" with them (even if it is only part time "at home").

I struggle with finding the contentment in that, I oftentimes find myself jumping ahead to what the next step for myself (and my family) will be.  I have to consciously tell myself to stop thinking and worrying sometimes, and to be present in the moment and enjoy my little life right now.  Because honestly?  It's perfect, I wouldn't want it any other way.

Sometimes, I need to remind myself that the following words may be a pretty good motto:

Source: byebyechubbydays.tumblr.com via Erica on Pinterest

Or maybe this is a better set of words to live by.  I think combining the two is going to be my mantra.

Source: cinsarah.blogspot.com via Erica on Pinterest